Most people don't think about their tie rods until their steering goes sloppy. But the inner tie rod end is one of the most important parts of your steering system — especially in drifting, racing, or lowered street builds.
What Is an Inner Tie Rod End?
The inner tie rod end connects the steering rack to the outer tie rod. It’s what physically pushes and pulls your wheels left and right when you turn the steering wheel. It:
- Transfers motion from the rack to the knuckle
- Plays a key role in toe adjustment
- Is under constant stress from road inputs, braking, and cornering
Why Do Inner Tie Rod Ends Fail?
Over time, factory inner tie rods wear out due to:
- Worn ball joints or bushings
- Aggressive suspension geometry (angle kits, lowered cars)
- Track abuse, drifting impacts, or curb hits
The result? Sloppy steering, poor alignment, and reduced driver confidence — exactly what you don’t want.
How to Know If Yours Are Worn
- Clunking or popping noises when turning
- Dead zone in the steering wheel
- Unstable toe alignment
- Visible movement at the inner joint when steering
Upgrading to Performance Tie Rods
If you run extended angle, wider tires, or just want reliability, upgrading your inner tie rod ends is a must. At SLR, we offer heavy-duty tie rods designed to handle real-world abuse in competitive environments.
Key features of our inner tie rods:
- High-strength materials (chromoly / hardened steel)
- Extra thread engagement for adjustability
- Built to pair with SLR outer arms and angle kits
- Available for BMW, Corvette, Nissan, Porsche, and more
Compatible with Serious Builds
Whether you’re running an E46 with 70+ degrees of angle with SLR or a C6 Corvette on Wisefab geometry, we’ve got an inner tie rod end that fits — and survives.
See the full selection of inner tie rod ends and outer tie rod options in our catalog. If you don’t see your chassis listed, reach out — we probably make it or can custom-build it at no extra charge.
